The
Most Beautiful Cars Ever Built

In all, thirty-four 250 Testa Rossas were built, from 1956 through
1961. The phrase "Testa Rossa" means "red head." The most well known,
the 250TR, was produced from 1957 to 1958; only 2 factory cars and 19
customer cars were built. After the 250 GTO, the 250 Testa Rossa is the
second most valuable Ferrari model, often valued at more than
US$8,000,000. A 1957 250 Testa Rossa sold on August 20, 2011 for
$16,400,000, a new world record auction price for a car when inflation
is ignored. It should also be noted that there was a time where this
car, along with several similar models, was viewed as merely a
"clapped-out" obsolete racer. They often sold for as low as $4,000
around 1965.

The 250 Testa Rossa was designed to offer customers already racing
with the 500 TRC a much more powerful engine on a similar chassis to
help retain the former model’s great handling. Rumour also had it that
the FIA would place a three-litre limit on prototypes and this indeed
proved to be the case. As a result the reliable V12 from the 250 Gran
Turismo was used albeit with a radically tuned with six twin-choke
carburettors. Compared with the 500 TRC, only the valve covers were
painted red, but the car still kept the Testa Rossa name and won the
Manufacturers’ World Championship in 1958